Luxury holidays in Uruguay: challenging its underdog status!

A question our Latin American expert Sas gets asked
time and time again: 'Why go on holiday inUruguay;
doesn'tArgentinahave it all?'

With some seriously cool beach spots and striking hotels
leading Latin America in the design stakes, the country is doing a
pretty good job of answering that question all on it's
own.

An introduction to Uruguay

Having just returned from my trip to Uruguay, I can officially say that the
perception that the country is a bizarre choice for a luxury
holiday couldn't be further from the truth. I confess to having
thought this myself initially, but my view has totally changed.

Uruguay is a country with
3.5 million inhabitants - three times the size of England - located
between Brazil and Argentina. The landscapes vary from
pristine beaches to beautiful countryside of rolling hills and vast
plains of cattle grazing pastures. There's colonial history, a
growing wine industry, and hotels catering to the most demanding
and wealthy traveller, the boho chic surfer to the riding
enthusiast looking to experience a day in the life of a gaucho.

As I journeyed from west to east, visiting the historical
quarters of Colonia, the wine estates in Carmelo, the farm estates
in the interior and ending on the beaches in the east of the
country, I warmed more and more to what Uruguay had to offer. What the
country's tourism industry may lack a little in service, it makes
up for in beauty, good food and wine, outstanding hospitality and a
lot of fun.

Horse-riding

If you are looking for a riding experience, I can recommend some
charming homely farm houses. Here, you'll find yourself rounding up
cattle with a man named Alejandro, crossing lagoons, galloping
through forests and wetlands.

Uruguay’s Beaches

If it's beaches - perhaps a spot of surfing or kite-surfing -
you're after, head to José Ignacio for the best boutique hotels and
cuisine to die for. Otherwise, La Barra has some more understated
hotels, if you prefer to get stuck in to the nightlife and party
culture. The more well-known resort of Punta del Este is thirty
minutes down the coast.

Be aware that that seasons starts mid-December and ends in
March. Out of season, the towns are quiet, the beaches are empty
(sounds ideal!) but most restaurants are still open. The weather,
however, is not so reliable.

Travelling to Uruguay

I suggest adding Uruguay
onto a holiday in Argentina.
However, if it's riding and beaches alone that take your fancy,
then skip Argentina and head
straight to Montevideo (Uruguay's capital city) with Air Europa or
Tam (via Madrid or Sao Paulo).

If you only fly with British Airways, you can add on a short
local flight to Uruguay from Buenos Aires or
Sao
Paulo. You won't be disappointed!

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